--and
consider it the part of wisdom to say nothing."

"I don't believe that!" cried Mary Louise indignantly. "The American
people are loyal to their President. There may be a few traitors; we're
gradually discovering them; but--"

"I am busy," Herring interrupted her, scowling, and he swung his chair
so that his back was toward her.

"You won't be busy long, if you keep talking that way," predicted the
girl.

"Tut-tut!" said the Hon. Andrew, warningly. "Your threats, young lady,
are as unwise as Mr. Herring's speech."

"But they carry more weight," she asserted stoutly. "Do you think any
grocery man in Dorfield would buy goods of Mr. Herring if he knew him
to be disloyal in this, our country's greatest crisis? And they're
going to know it, if I have to visit each one and tell him myself what
Mr. Herring has said."

A tense, if momentary silence, followed, broken by the Professor, who
now said in his smooth, unctuous way:

"Mr. Herring's blunt expression of his sentiments was not intended for
other ears than ours, I am sure. In confidence, one may say many things
to friends which he would prefer to withhold from an indiscriminating
public. We are well assured, indeed, that Mr. Herring is a loyal
American, with America's best interests at heart, but he does not
regard our present national activities as leniently as we do. I have
been endeavoring, in my humble way, to change his attitude of mind,"
here Herring swung around and looked at the speaker stolidly, "and
though I admit he is a bit obstinate, I venture to assure you, Miss
Burrows, that Silas Herring will stand by the Stars and Stripes as long
as there is a shred of our banner to wave in the breeze of freedom,
justice and democracy."

A cynical smile gradually settled on the grocer's stern face. The Hon.
Andrew was smiling with undisguised cheerfulness.

"We are all loyal--thoroughly loyal," said the latter. "I've bought
some Liberty Bonds already, my girl, but you can put me down for a
hundred dollars more. We must support our country in every possible
way, with effort, with money, with our flesh and blood. I have no
children, but my two nephews and a second cousin are now in France!"

"For my part," added Professor Dyer, "I have hesitated as to how much
of my meagre salary I can afford to spend. But I think I can handle
five hundred dollars' worth."

"Thank you," said Mary Louise, somewhat puzzled by these offers. "It
isn't like risking the money;